Difference Between Spotting and Period

Posted on January 1, 2011 by Andrew Last updated on: February 23, 2011

Spotting vs Period

Spotting and Period are women related conditions. A woman’s body is one that is strong yet also quite delicate. Physical structure, hormones, diet and other factors all affect a woman’s well being. For instance, at the onset of puberty, menstruation begins, which may be both an initially horrifying yet exciting experience for many girls— for a lot, this is considered to be the beginning of a young lady’s blossoming into a fine woman. However, menstruation can usually be difficult for many women. Aside from the anxiety brought about by blood flow, hormonal reactions may also cause migraines or severe headache and cramps or prolonged dull pain in the stomach, hip and back area. These may all be remedied with pain killers, but most women still do not enjoy or welcome their monthly period primarily because of the discomfort it brings, although this is quite normal.

Aside from menstruation, women also experience another type of bleeding called spotting. In this article we will discuss the two occurrences and try to differentiate them from one another.

Menstruation

Menstruation or Period is basically characterized by the discharge of blood from a woman’s uterus, through the vaginal canal. It happens on a regular basis (for about five days, once every month) and kicks off when a girl has reached puberty in her early teen years. It occurs not just in people, but also animals belonging to the mammalian species, and is seen as a sign that one is already ready or capable to reproduce offspring. (Therefore, the absence of menstruation in an adult might indicate pregnancy.) Menstruation is usually brought about by the shedding of the uterus’ inner membrane.

As mentioned earlier, most women do not welcome the experience, especially when dysmenorrhea (or painful cramps along the uterus) occur, which may also be coupled with migraine and back ache. However, the discomfort and pain may be reduced through intake of pain killers, and by the use of certain sanitary items such as tampons, sanitary napkins and feminine wash.

Spotting

Spotting, or vaginal bleeding, occurs when a woman discovers blood in her nether regions in between her menstrual cycles. The amount of blood may not be as much as menstruation. Spotting can be a slightly traumatic or frightening experience for a lot of women, who are encouraged to consult a gynecologist to determine the cause of spotting. The following are some reasons for spotting to occur:

– Pregnancy

– Vaginal infections

– Stress

– Injury

– Certain changes in hormonal levels

Difference between Spotting and Period

While menstruation is a normal occurrence for women, spotting may not be, therefore it is viewed as somewhat threatening.

Menstruation happens to be a monumental part in a woman’s body, while spotting is caused by certain factors that may or may not be related to bodily functions.

Conclusion

It is important for women to be able to accept menstruation as a normal occurrence in their lives. At the same time, the occurrence of menstruation and spotting in between menstrual cycles only affirms the need for women to know how to take care of themselves: Therefore it is necessary for women to watch their diet, check their lifestyles and make sure they are strong, fit and healthy.

Comments

This is a terrible article! Was it written in German and google-translated into English? I came here looking for facts and instead found all these (albeit hilarious) anachronistic opinions from someone who seems both unfamiliar and uncomfortable with human anatomy–or at least that of those who menstruate.